Students turn to the Osmania University landscape garden while seeking the much-needed serenity for their studies

There is no better setting to romance with books. The sprawling lawn in the landscape garden of Osmania University (OU) has plenty of tree shades and rocks with comfortable seating positions, which turn it into a virtual open-air library. And, students flock to the lawn for the much-needed serenity to prepare for examinations lined up.

Hundreds of students throng the garden every morning. Some bring chairs for that extra comfort, while others sit on rocks. The sight is surprising to morning walkers, as it offers a contrasting picture to what is reported about the campus.

The cool environs and fresh air draw hostellers, too, to the garden, says Rudra Reddy, a research scholar. It has always been a popular hangout, and, naturally, those who are fed up with dingy hostel rooms prefer open spaces like the landscape garden. The numbers shoot up whenever job notifications are issued, he adds.

“The calmness, apart from the environs, also injects the spirit of competitiveness,” says T. Naveen Kumar, an M.Sc student. His friend Karnekota Maheshwar, a student of M.Sc (Physics), agrees: “With so many students around preparing for exams, the boredom is gone, and the zeal to study increases.”

Scores of students from colleges outside the campus, too, prefer the gardens as they do not have access to the university library.

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